VIJAYAWADA: AMID the raging controversy over the Polavaram project, the State Cabinet on Friday sprang a surprise by favouring inclusion of the numerically strong Kapu community among Backward Classes (BCs) with 5 per cent reservation. Based on the report submitted by Justice Manjunath Commission, the Cabinet more or less decided to provide quota for Kapus in education and employment.
The Commission, which went by the data collected through the Smart Pulse Survey and other sources, has recommended up to 4-5 per cent quota to Kapus, Balijas, Telagas and Ontari castes. The Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, discussed the report for over four hours.
Emerging from the meeting, HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao, himself a Kapu, told reporters, “This is a festival day for Kapus. A new category F will be included in the BC list. We will ensure that the interests of existing BCs are not adversely affected.” He also said the Cabinet will again discuss the issue Saturday morning and a resolution will be moved in both the Assembly and the Council. Thereafter, it will be forwarded to the Governor for his approval and subsequently to the Centre for inclusion in the IXth Schedule of the Constitution.
A senior official told TNIE that the Supreme Court cap of 50 per cent on reservations would not be a hurdle and cited the example of Tamil Nadu, where reservations are around 69 pc. Kapus account for 27 pc of state population.